CNN: Rubio Campaign Is Prepping For Contested GOP Convention

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during a rally at Greenville Downtown Airport Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

In the hopes of convincing donors that he is the man to stop Donald Trump, the campaign of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is reportedly mapping out a strategy for a brokered Republican convention.

Two anonymous people present at a private Manhattan meeting of top Rubio donors told CNN Thursday that the campaign sees a contested convention as one of two strategies it could use to deprive Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) or Donald Trump of earning the party’s nod. The other, which is seeming less likely, would be securing himself an adequate number of states and delegates ahead of the July convention.

While the possibility of a brokered convention has been floated before in the 2016 race, given the diverse and eccentric cast of characters running in the Republican field, the CNN report offers concrete evidence that the Rubio campaign is actively pitching this possibility to donors.

The last brokered convention in the U.S. occurred in the 1952 presidential race.

Rubio is the only top-tier candidate who has yet to secure a win in an early primary state. Cruz won the Iowa caucus, while Trump earned wide leads in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

All of the candidates will face off Thursday night in Houston, Texas, in the final Republican debate before Super Tuesday.

Latest Livewire
24
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Hiram Stephen Williams · UCLA
    Imagine Marco Rubio standing in front of the red and white stripes of our American flag. Easy to do, since his usual backdrop. Now imagine those stripes on a red and white shirt and matching cap instead of the flag with Rubio wearing them. Once you see him this way, you will know him forever. And wonder where he might be now.

    Marco Rubio says the things particular audiences want to hear, but is never willing to fight for any given policy. His expressed beliefs change, his default positions never do; under pressure, his brain stalls, he makes up a new song, or he goes missing.

    POLITICAL CHAMELEON

    Shading opinions,
    he can instantly become
    the preferred hue, man.

    In a crowd, we always need to ask, “Where’s Rubio? “ A red and white striped shirt and cap would help. Waldo lives!

  2. Rubio should trying winning an actual state first, then maybe he can “prep” for his eventual swing at a grand slam during the super bowl.

  3. Avatar for imkmu3 imkmu3 says:

    So, will he be all preppy by summer?

  4. I for one look forward to gavel to gavel coverage if for only to see how Megyn’s makeup handles the smoke filled rooms.

  5. Avatar for caltg caltg says:

    Cart meet horse.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

18 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for bdtex Avatar for meri Avatar for brooklyndweller Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for ericaz Avatar for imkmu3 Avatar for leftflank Avatar for emarquez Avatar for trnc Avatar for inversion Avatar for thadbeier Avatar for tomanjeri Avatar for catfish Avatar for amandacorliss Avatar for serendipitoussomnambulist Avatar for multiverseinhabitant Avatar for azjude Avatar for pshah Avatar for eatbees Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for jviscont1 Avatar for caltg

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: